Kali Puja or Shyama Puja, the second largest festival after Durga Puja of the Bangalee Hindu community, will be celebrated across the country on Sunday with worshipping Goddess Kali, lighting earthen lamps, and candles at temples and residences amid due religious fervour and enthusiasm.
Kali Puja is also called Deepabali or Diwali, the festival of lights.
Usually, Kali Puja, worshipping the Goddess of strength, wisdom and enlightenment, is celebrated on the night of Amavasya of the Bangla month of Kartik (October or November).
On the night of the festival, members of the Hindu community light earthen lamps (Pradeep) at their houses and crematoriums in memory of their departed elderly persons.
According to the puja schedule, Ramkrishna Mission and Ramakrishna Math, Dhaka, the worship of goddess Kali will begin in the night on Sunday at the mission, which will be followed by the offering of Anjali and hom-jogger and distribution of maha prasad.
Marking the festival, idols of the Goddess Kali will be installed at different temples and mandaps tonight as well as on Sunday.
At some temples, animals will be sacrificed as one of the customs of the festival.
According to myths, the goddess Kali was born out of the brow of Goddess Durga during one of her battles with demons.
During the battle, Kali was so much on a killing spree that she began destroying everything that came into her sight. To stop her, Lord Shiva threw himself under her feet. Shocked by this, Kali stuck out her tongue in astonishment and put an end to her rampage.
The main purpose of the puja is to seek the help of the goddess in destroying evil in the outside world and within human beings.
The largest Kali Puja celebration takes place in Shakhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar in the old part of the city and Mymensingh where pandals are kept for four to six days.
A festive mood is already prevailing in the air of Shakhari Bazar and Tanti Bazar area as makeshift pandals are being erected and temples are being gorgeously decorated.
Business marking the puja is also going in full swing in the old part of the capital as a massive number of Hindus are busy buying puja materials including candles, earthen lamps (Pradeep) and others.
Artisans are also spending busy time giving the final touch at the idols.